Many women choose to have breast augmentation surgery to enhance the shape and size of their breasts. This can often give them the figure they have always wanted and boost their self-esteem.
Sometimes women begin to have issues with their breast implants and begin developing symptoms that affect how they feel physically and emotionally.
Can breast implants make you feel sick? Yes. Some women experience something that is called breast implant illness, or BII, that develops after they undergo a breast augmentation. Symptoms can develop almost right after their breast augmentation surgery or even years later, and they may gradually interfere with their quality of life.
What Is Breast Implant Illness?
Breast implant illness is not recognized as an “official” medical diagnosis, meaning it has not been issued any specific diagnostic codes, and according to the Cleveland Clinic, there are no standard medical tests used to identify it, and many cases go unreported.
BII is the term doctors use to describe a collection of symptoms that some women experience after getting breast implants. Breast implant illness is still being studied by researchers who are trying to determine why this happens and who is more likely to be affected.
What Type Of Implants Are Associated With Breast Implant Illness?
Researchers have not seen a definite pattern in the conditions that trigger breast implant illness. Studies show that symptoms have been reported in women with a variety of different types of implants, including:
- Silicone implants
- Saline implants
- Smooth implants
- Textured implants
What Are The Symptoms Of Breast Implant Illness?
The symptoms of breast implant illness can be different for every woman, but some common signs of breast implant illness include:
- Joint and muscle pain
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog and trouble concentrating
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hair loss
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
- Skin rashes
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Flu-like symptoms
- Digestive problems
- Weight changes
- Hormone imbalances
Many of these symptoms are common to other medical conditions, and they can occur intermittently, which makes BII a challenge to diagnose in some cases. Many women are not even aware that BII is real and could possibly be behind their symptoms.
Signs Of Breast Implant Illness
The signs of breast implant illness are not always obvious during a physical exam. Often, women with breast implant illness face challenges in describing definite symptoms, but they feel like something is off, and they just do not feel right. Some things to consider that may point to BII may include:
- Symptoms that started after breast implant surgery
- Symptoms that continue to get worse over time
- Negative autoimmune testing despite ongoing symptoms
- Improvement after implant removal
- Chronic inflammation symptoms without another clear cause
- Changes that show up on the face, like dark under-eye circles, a puffy face, dull skin tone, premature aging, etc.
Your doctor may order blood work or imaging tests, or refer you to another specialist, before linking your symptoms to your breast implants. It is important that you keep BII in mind if you begin having strange symptoms that cannot be explained, so you are properly diagnosed.
How Is Breast Implant Illness Diagnosed?
There is no single test for breast implant illness, and it is often tricky to diagnose. It is important for a doctor to be informed that you have implants when they are reviewing symptoms that can be similar to other medical issues. When the doctor is aware that you have undergone a breast augmentation, it will help them follow a process that can lead to quicker treatment. This process often includes:
- Reviewing symptoms
- Medical history
- Implant history
- Ruling out other conditions.
- Evaluating autoimmune or inflammatory issues.
Making your doctor aware that you have implants can help them look at all your symptoms as whole and not focus on one certain symptom alone.
Can Breast Implant Removal Help Resolve BII Symptoms?
Yes. Removing the breast implants (explant surgery) can help improve or resolve symptoms, but the results can be different for each person.
One research review published in the Aesthetic Society journal reported that many women (82%) found partial or total relief from their symptoms after their implants were removed. The study also went on to state that removal did not resolve symptoms for all women, which may have been caused by other underlying autoimmune or inflammatory health issues.
The review included more than 6,000 women with breast implant illness symptoms with an average age of 46 years old. Most began noticing symptoms about 6 years after getting their breast implants. At around the 12-year mark, many chose to have their implants removed to gain relief from their symptoms. The most common symptoms to improve for most of the women in the study after breast implant removal included:
- Fatigue or chronic tiredness
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
The studies also reported that some women with BII had other underlying health conditions, including:
- Autoimmune disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Mental health issues like anxiety or depression
Researchers also found signs of inflammation and bacteria around some implants, as well as implant rupture and capsular contracture (scar tissue hardening) around some others.
When You Should See A Doctor
If you have breast implants and are experiencing unexplained symptoms that are affecting your health or your daily routine, you should report them to your doctor. It is important to take symptoms like the following seriously:
- Severe fatigue
- Chronic pain
- Ongoing joint or muscle pain
- Memory problems
- Swelling
- Persistent rashes
- Changes in the shape or firmness of your breasts.
Your doctor can help rule out other possible causes and determine options for treatment. Book an appointment with Newvue plastic surgery to learn more.
Where Can I Learn More About Breast Augmentation?
Newvue plastic surgery offers breast implants in Seattle, WA. Doctor George Min has over 20 years of experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast implants and explant surgery.
If you think you may have symptoms of breast implant illness, it is important to work with a doctor, like Dr. Min, who understands the unusual series of symptoms that can indicate BII. He and his team can help look at your symptoms and discuss possible causes. He and his team can help you decide if removing your implants would be a good solution for you and to plan next steps.
Set up a consultation today to learn more about breast augmentation.
FAQs
Can saline implants cause breast implant illness?
Yes. Women with both saline and silicone implants have been affected by breast implant illness.
Can breast implant illness cause weight gain?
Yes. Unexplained weight gain has been reported by some women who have experienced BII, but it is also often linked to chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and metabolic changes.
Can breast implant illness affect hormones?
Some women report hormone-related symptoms like irregular periods or fatigue, and researchers are still conducting studies to determine the link.
Can you develop breast implant illness after implant replacement?
Yes. Some women develop symptoms after replacing their older implants with newer ones.
Is breast implant illness an autoimmune disease?
BII has not been classified as an autoimmune disease and research is still being conducted to determine how to classify the group of symptoms it can cause. Many women who suffer from BII also have symptoms that are related to autoimmune issues.
